Retainer for bed coverings and the like



ug., HMB. J. A. GooDn-IART ET AL 51,3%

I RETAINER FOR BED COVERINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 19, 1940 Patented Aug. 5, 1941 Jacob A.. Goedhart, chicago, anavrnoii o. Helberg, Evergreen Park, Ill.

Application February 19, 1940, Serial No. 319,732

s Claims. (ol. 244-725) This invention relates to a retainer device which is adapted to maintain the blankets and other coverings of a bed in `a smooth condition whereby the person occupying the bed will rest comfortably. More especially this retainer has been designed for use in cribs for infants and youths beds such as are used for older children.

Asis well-known, many infants are inclined or disposed to move about during their sleeping periods in cribs and small beds, often assuming a anc'es have been used for the purpose of holding I the blankets and coverings in position, but practically all of these devices embody means for securing the bedding to the side portions of the crib or to the sides of the mattress, and they usually employ tapes or strips which are objectionable because infants in their movements have looped these tapes around their throat resulting in choking and sometimes strangulation.

The present invention successfully overcomes the above-stated inherent objections to the prior devices by providing a suitable open frame that is placed upon the blanket or other bed-covering in a manner that it will maintain these coverings in a smooth condition and at the same time permit the infant to move or change positions without becoming entangled in the bedding, or uncovered or exposed. Also, with the present structure, should the infant insert its head under the coverings, the frame will tend to lift the upper portion of the coverings so that suihcient air is admitted to permit respiratory action.

This device embodies a U-shaped frame the spring arms of which are connected to the bedcove'ring in a manner so that said arms are under tension and tend to separate or move away from 'each other and thereby maintain the blankets or otherbed-covering in an unrumpled condition. The spring frame may be continuous in one-piece such as an elongate coiled spring, or a spring rod bent into the desired shape, or may comprise a rigid strip to which spring rods are suitablyconnected. It is preferred to envelop a portion 'or all of the frame in a suitable casing that is readily removable and which aifords means whereby the structure is attached to the blankets or other bed-coverings.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in providing an article of the kind described that is novel in the construction and arrangement of its parts. Other objects are to provide an article that is effective and dependable in performing its functions; that is capable of being readily assembled or taken apart without the use of special tools; and further, to provide a retainer for bed-coverings that is economical to manufacture so that it may be sold to the user for a reasonable retail price. Additional objects and advantages `of this invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction and operation of the device is understood from the disclosure given herein. It is preferred to accomplish the divers objects, and to practice this invention, in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawing that forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing@ l Figure 1 is a plan showing this invention applied to the blanket or other covering of a crib, bed, or the like.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken through an arm of the frame and adjacent portion of the cross-piece to which the arm is attached, the section being on line 2--2 of Figure 1 and enlarged.

Figure 3 i's a longitudinal section of an arm at the location of the means for attaching the frame to be bed-covering.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line le-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan of a portion of a modied type `of frame.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, showing the manner of securing the rod and casing in position upon the cross-piece.

The drawing shows typical or preferred forms in which this invention may be made, and in the drawing the same reference characters are used to designate like parts wherever such parts appear in the different views. It will also be understood the drawing ismore or less schematic and is given solely for the purpose of clearness of understanding and that no unnecessary restrictions are to be understood therefrom. l

In its preferred form shown in Figurey 1 the device comprises a U-shaped frame which embodies a transverse strip it that is shaped in any suitable manner and which may bel a piece of wood or the like and forms the transverse member of the frame. The arms which extend from the ends of the strip preferably comprise rods I I made of spring or elastic metal and are of suicient length to permit them being readily flexed. As shown, these spring rods or arms extend away from the strip Ill and normally diverge from each other as suggested by the dotted lines in Figure l. As these rods are practically duplicates, one of them will be described and such a description will be suihcient to apply to both rods.

The strip lil is transversely bored to provide an aperture or recess I2 that receives the downturned lateral end portion I3 of a spring latch i4 that is disposed upon the surface of the strip and extends radially away from said aperture. The body of the latch may be anchored to the strip in any suitable manner, preferably by a small screw I5, a rivet or otherwise. The strip is provided with a long bore I6 that extends inwardly from one of its edges intermediate the top and bottom faces of the strip, which bore passes across the aperture I2, and is disposed with its axis transverse to and intersecting the axis of said aperture. The inner end or lateral member I3 of the latch projects across the bore I6 so that it will be in position to engage the adjacent portion of the rod I I that is inserted in said bore I6 past the aperture. In order to provide means to retain the rod in position the said rod is provided with an annular depression, groove or notch Il near its inner end that is exposed in the aperture I2 where it is adapted to be engaged by the lateral edge I3 of the spring latch in the manner illustrated in the detailed sectional View. As shown, the rod II is not disposed at a true right-angle to the strip I0, but it is in a plane that is slightly oblique to a rightangle so that the outer ends of the rods are further apart than their anchored ends at the strip.

In order to protect the outer end of the rod it is provided with a shield or tip I8, preferably of rubber, that is frictionally held in position upon the end of the rod. As a further protection to the rod, as well as to give the frame a pleasing appearance, the framev arms are enveloped in a suitable casing, and means are provided on such casing whereby the frame may be detachably fastened to the blankets or other bed-covering. This casing preferably comprises a backing in the form of a strip of elastic webbing or tape I9 that is long enough to extend from the cross-strip I9 to and past the tipped end of the rod. This elastic or tape has a finishing piece or an ornamental ribbon 2li secured to its upper face preferably by longitudinal rows of stitches 2I adjacent the margins of the casing. If desired the ribbon may be shirred during the stitching operation whereby to present an attractive appearance to the finished article. The outer end of the casing is closed so that the tipped end of the rod will not be projected out of the same, while the inner end of the casing, which is next to or overlapping the adjacent edge of the strip is open so that the rod may be inserted through this open end. The ribbon 20 is long enough to be inserted through a transverse opening or slot 22 made in the strip alongside the spring latch, and a similar ribbon 20a, which is secured to the adjacent end of the elastic or tape, extends across the under-face of the strip and is inserted upwardly through the opening or slot 22. The ends of the ribbons may be tied in a bow knot whereby the casing is retained in position upon the rod and the strip I0.

In order to conveniently anchor the frame to the blankets or other bed-covering, Pins 23 of the safety-type may be inserted through the casing and pinned through the bed-covering. It is preferred, however, to obscure these safetypins 23, and in order to do this a small piece of webbing 2t is stitched along its margins to the back of the casing preferably direct to the elastic or tape I9. These pieces of webbing are spaced apart, so that they are located adjacent the outer and inner ends of the frame or rod. Intermediate the longitudinal sides of the webbing there is a longitudinal loop 25 that is formed by folding the material lengthwise and securing the folded portion by a row of stitches 26. This loop or tube surrounds the back portion or body of the safety-pin and allows the pointed shank portion to depend therefrom so so that it may be inserted through the bed-coverings in a manner well understood.

When this frame is placed upon the bed-covering, the pins nearest the cross-piece or Wood strip ID are first anchored to a bed-covering, after which outer free ends of the frame arms are placed under tension by drawing them towards each other and then anchoring the same to the bed-covering by means of the pins adjacent the outer ends of the frame. Thus the normal tendency of the arms is to separate or move away from each other at their outer portions and movement of the arms, while under tension, will be limited by the portion of the bedcovering that lies between the outer ends of said arms. The outward pull of the arms will tend to hold the bedding smooth and maintain it in this condition during use of the frame. If it is so desired, strips of suitable material 26 may be tied to the cross-piece Ill through the openings or slots 22 and also to the proximate portions of the sides of the crib. It will be seen, the structure may be readily knocked-down for storage or transportation in a small space, or the casing for the rods may be removed for laundering or replacement whenever desired.

The body or skeleton portion of the frame may be made integral from one piece of rod that is bent into the desired U-shape. Or, as shown herein, it may be modified by forming it from a continuous length of a coiled wire spring 21. In order that the coiled wire is maintained in substantially U-shape it is surrounded by a pair of tubular elements 2S that are spaced apart and each element has its end portions bent at angle to each other in the manner shown. The casing in this modified structure should not only cover the arms of the frame but also envelope the cross-piece 29 that connects said arms. This casing also should be made in two parts, similar to each other and meeting at about the center of length of said cross-piece where the ends are tied to each other by tapes, ribbons, or the like.

It will be appreciated latch members I4 may be dispensed with, and that the recess or aperture therefore may be eliminated, in which event the tie-pieces or ribbons 29 and 20a may be depended upon to maintain the rods I I in their respective sockets I6 as well as to retain the protective envelopes of shields I9--2 upon the arms or rods of the frame. When the arms are sprung towards each other to attach the structure to the bed-covering, the arms will tend to remain in their sockets due to the fact lthat there Will be a binding action between the rods and the walls of the sockets that will create sufcient friction to prevent accidental clislodgement, and

"at the same time the tie 'pieces w`i`11 act as a iur-l vther stay to prevent withdrawal of the rods.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of the kind described embodying lelongate yieldable arms that are transversely -spaced apart and disposed divergent to each other; a rigid strip connecting the ends of said arms which are nearest each other; devices detachably anchoring said arms to said strip; and means securing the remote ends of said arms to a bed-covering under tension whereby the tend- 'ency of said remote ends of the arms to move outwardly away from each other is limited by the portion of the bed-covering between said arms.

2. A bed-cover retainer adapted to be secured thereto, said retainer embodying a spring frame of substantially U-shape disposable llat upon the 'top of the bed-cover to extend over a substantial lportion thereof; and means on said frame for detachably securing said frame to the bed-cover.

3. A bed-cover retainer adapted to be secured thereto, said retainer embodying a frame ,dis posable flat upon the top of the bed-cover to extend over a substantial portion thereof, said frame comprising spaced spring arms, and a cross-member connecting corresponding portions of said arms; and means on said arms for detachably securing said arms to the bed-cover.

4. A bed-cover retainer adapted to be secured thereto, said retainer embodying a frame disposable flat upon the top of the bed-cover to extend over a substantial portion thereof, said frame comprising spaced spring arms disposed oblique to each other, and rigid means connecting the adjacent end portions of said arms; and means on said arms for detachably securing the portions of the arms remote to said connecting means to the bed-cover.

5. A bed-cover retainer adapted to be secured thereto, said retainer embodying two normally straight spring arms disposable at upon the top of the bed-cover; means connecting corresponding end portions of said arms and also disposable flat upon the bed-cover to extend over a substantial portion thereof; and means on said arms for detachably securing portions of said arms to the bed-cover under tension, whereby the portion of the bed-cover between said arms is maintained smooth and taut.

6. A bed-cover retainer adapted to be secured thereto, said retainer embodying a spring frame of substantially U-shape disposable flat upon the bed-cover to extend over a substantial portion thereof; tabs on the spaced arms of said frame; and means on said tabs for detachably securing said tabs to the bed-cover.

7. A bed-cover retainer adapted to be secured thereto, said retainer embodying a spring frame of substantially U-shape disposable ilat upon the bed-cover to extend over a substantial portion thereof, the arms of said U-shaped frame adapted to be bowed towards each other whereby said arms will tend to move away from each other; and means on said arms for securing the free portions of the arms, while bowed, to the bedcover, whereby the portion of the bed-cover between the arms is maintained in a taut condition.

8. A bed-cover retainer adapted to be secured thereto, said retainer embodying a sp-ring frame of substantially U-shape dsposable flat upon the top of the bed-cover to extend over a substantial portion thereof; a removable tubular covering enveloping the arms of said frame; and means on said covering for detachably securing said covering to the bed-cover.

JACOB A. GOODHART. VERNON C. HELBERG. 

